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The Chronicle Review Corner

We’ve previously praised the ethereal music of Östlund — so much so one of our reviews has made it to the sleeve on this CD — and this new one is different but equally good. The opening Concerto for Violin and Symphony Orchestra is more conventional and orchestral (courtesy Moscow Bow Tie Orchestra) and even dramatic in places, although it drifts towards the mystical unless steered away.

We’re not sure why (and there’ll be a good reason) but he samples the famous Dance of the Knights by Prokofiev. Aquarelle is dreamier, with flute and possibly harp while Morpheus Metamorphoses gets a little more dramatic, with faint stirrings of Knights. Paganini Fantasia is, as its name suggests, a take on Paganini’s 24th Caprice, better known as the Southbank Show theme.

Nocturnia closes and takes the sound more orchestral; as across all the CD Östlund has moments where he gets a little heavy but it always drifts back to the mystical. The sleeve notes say it’s meant to convey landscapes, stories, thoughts and dreams. It’s heftier and more ambitious than the previous music we’ve heard, and proves that Östlund can handle a larger orchestra, but he always manages to keep the sound intimate and approachable.